Coventry, John. Morals and Independence: an Introduction to Ethics, London: 1949, pages109.
Morals and Independence an Introduction to Ethics is a good introductory book by john Coventry. This book can be used as a substitute for a first-hand study of the subject. In this subject the author effectively and subtly argues the arguments opened up with great questions. He simplified the philosophy as pills. The writer has most effectively introduces his readers right into the real subject. This book has a preface by D.D. Mackinnan, a professor of moral philosophy at the university of Aberdeen. It contains seven chapters. The entire book starts with an attractive question. Why I should be moral?
The book is all about morals. It discusses the aim, the means, and the norms of ethical actions. It also speaks about the freedom of men, who perform actions and features of pure ethics. And finally there is a description about the moral law. It gives us a good picture of moral life. There is discussion about moral and natural laws. It also discusses about synthetic and analytic judgements.
In the first chapter the author asks the question why I should be moral? And he tries to give answer from different perspectives of society and of ones own personal life.
"The end of man is happiness." There portrays the aim of human life as happiness. The very existence of human being has an end, which is happiness. In this chapter the writer explains the nature of true happiness. It also describes the difference between an end and an aim. There is an elaborate discussion about it.
The third chapter consists the discussion about duty. There is a short explanation of two extremes. 'desire' plays an important role in philosophers discussions (Kant, Hume). It gives a vivid picture of the relation between desire, duty and the moral goodness.
Duty and interest must coincide. The moral judgement and other judgements briefly explained in the fourth chapter. It goes deeper why one should have moral judgement? And the main lines of objection.
In the fifth chapter the author discusses the existence of freewill. There he examines it with psychological factors. The choice of man makes him responsible to perform certain action of law. There is vital role for freedom in moral judgement.
In the sixth chapter the author narrates the nature of pure ethics, which is limited one. It expresses clearly the Christian view in this chapter. There it says how one can make moral arguments for the existence of God.
In the final chapter of this beautiful philosophical piece the author places the discussion about moral law. Moral law is considered as a code. The two kinds of judgements facilitate the moral law.
The book has a wonderful structure of presentation. It starts with a very fundamental question. The discussion about the happiness, gives clear picture to the reader that what is the end of human person. The author well defined each term such as pleasure, end, aim etc... The role of reason also explained in a logical sense. Duty is considered as a compelling Good. He says that "I am 'I', only When my reason is in control; What I desire then is morally good." The freewill is considered as natural faculty of human being. The freedom is defined as the power of choice between open possibilities. This choice has a certain amount of results too. Pure ethics has certain limitations. Pure ethics is not enough.
The whole work is a beautiful logical presentation of morals. He explained in a question answering style. All the chapters are arranged in a logical sequence. It portrays a colourful picture of morality. How the moral conscience is created, what is the end of all moral actions, the relation with duty and the involvement of freedom, how moral law works etc.... are narrated well. It is a good hand book on moral philosophy.
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